News Release

Friday, July 18, 2008

LAPD Academy Graduation-Class 2/08

Los Angeles: This morning, the City of Los Angeles welcomed 37 new police officers in a morning graduation ceremony held at Elysian Park Police Academy. Present at the graduation was Police Chief William J. Bratton, Police Commissioner Andrea Sheridan Ordin, Police Department Command Staff, families, and friends who congratulated the 34 men and 3 women who will begin their new work assignments of protecting and serving within 24 hours.

For these new police officers their journey began 24 weeks ago, when they embarked upon a rigorous and challenging 912 hour course that would test their discipline, sharpen their skills and strengthen their minds and bodies.

Today’s ceremony featured special guest speaker, Philip Fedor, a 7th grade student at SS Felicitas and Perpetua School. Philip, who was joined by his parents, was one of ten winners of the 2008 LAPD Essay Contest, an annual writing competition which asks middle school students from the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles schools what they would do if they were a Los Angeles Police Department officer for a day to greatly impact their community.

In May, Chief Bratton recognized the ten LAPD Essay Contest winners at an awards ceremony. So moved by Philip’s essay, Chief Bratton invited him to read his essay at this morning’s graduation ceremony. Addressing the graduating class, Chief Bratton stated, “[Phillip’s] remarks are the embodiment of what you today, as you begin your careers, should commit to do as you begin to impact the community.”